The Hedwigiaceae contain three genera and about 19 species; three genera and 10 species in the Neotropics (De Luna, 1992). In the tropical Andes all genera occur mostly at mid to high elevations, often in exposed sites, on branches and trunk of trees, soil and rocks. The family is recognized by the ecostate leaves, papillose laminal cells that are sinuose, and capsules that lack a peristome. Hedwigidium is placed in Hedwigia by some authors. Rhacocarpus, until recent times, has been placed in the Hedwigiaceae; at present it is placed in its own family, the Rhacocarpaceae; see discussion and review by De Luna (1990b).